Gasolene-tank-filler cap



s. A. STRANAHAN.

GASOLENE TANK FILLER CAP.

I APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 18, I919.

Patented May 11,1920.

r "HJIIISEIz-mm R U M w N I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. STRANAHAN, OF FLINT, -MIOHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS GORIORATION, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GASOLENE-TANK-FILLER GAP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 1 1, 1920.

Application filed September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,341.

and resident of Flint, Genesee county, State of Michigan, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Gasolene -Tank- Filler Caps, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates toolosures or caps for the filling openings of the gasolene tanks of automobiles and similar motor vehicles, although the same may be used as a closure for any tank or receptacle within which a liquid is contained, and which is likely to splash up into the opening closed by the cap and leak through the joint between the cap and the opening.

The object of my invention is to provide a filling opening closing cap of the type above referred to and, especially adapted foruse with the gasolene tanks of automobiles, and which ca is provided with an improved form of ba e construction for preventing the gasolene' within the tank from leaking past the joint between the cap and the filling passage through which the tank is filled, due to the splashing of the liquid within the tank; the construction and arrangement of the baffle device being such that such gasolene or other liquid as may splash up into the cap will be promptly returned to the interior of the tank, and not permitted to seep through the threaded or other form of oint between the filling open ing and the cap forclosing the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide an i proved closing cap for the gasolene supp'yopening of a gasolene tank;

said cap havihg battles for preventin the escape of liquid from the interior 0 the tank, and having also a vent leading to the external atmosphere and through which air may flow into the tank and out therefrom due to the movement of'liquid within the tank.

A further object of my invention is to provide a gasolene tank filling opening cap which will be simple in construction, and which may be manufactured at a minimum of expense and by improved manufacturing processes; and which at the same time will be effective for the purpose of preventing leakage of gasolene past the joint between the cap and filling opening and to the exterior; of the tank.

With the above and other objects of in-.

vention'in view, my-invention' consists of the improved gasolene tank filling opening I cap illustrated in the accompanying drawing and hereinafter described and claimed,

and in such variations {and modifications thereof, within the scope of the concluding claims, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

Referring to the drawing wherein the .pre-

ferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a view showing my improved gasolene tank cap in plan and broken away in part to show features of internal coiistr'uction;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the same in section upon a vertical central plane, and;

Fig. 3 is a view showing a section, similar to Fig. 2, of amodified form of my invention.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 4' designates the main body portion ofmy improved gasolene tank cap, the same being interiorly threaded at 5 to engage the exteriorly threaded extremity of a filling neck or passage through which gasolene may be supplied to the interior-"of the tank the filling opening of which is closed by my improved cap. Said cap is shown as pro- 85.

videdwith the usual ears 6 for preventing the slipping of the hand of the operator in screwing the cap in place, or removing it to fill the gasolene tank, although it will be appreciated that features of construction other than. the ears may be provided for preventing the slipping of the hands in removing and replacing the cap.

The bodyportion 4- 'is provided with an internal annular shoulder 7 located at the inner end of the threaded portion of the cap, and which shoulder providesan annular seat, against which the periphery of a flat combined gasket and battles rests; said gas ket being held in place between the shoul- 10c der-,7 and the extremity of the nipple or neck through which gasolene is supplied to the. tank when the cap is in place and screwed home, as will be understood. This gasketor baffle is provided with one or more openings; two openings 9 being'present in theform of my invention illustrated in Fig. 2,'while a single opening 10 is employed in the form thereof illustrated in Fig. 3.

The main body portion 4 ofthe cap is of hollow construction and is provided with an internal chamber 11, the peripheral walls 12 of which is preferably cylindrical as shown, and which chamber is concentric with and extends upward from the seat provided by the annular shoulder 7;,the upper end of said 'chamber'being closed by the top wall 13 of the cap and said top wall being provided with a hole 14 leading from the chamber 11 to the external atmosphere.

Located within the chamber 11 and extending across the same is a baffle plate provided with an opening through which such liquid as may find its way through the openings in the gasket 8 and into the'portion of the chamber above the'plate, due to the splashing of the liquid within the tank, may flow back into the space below said plate, and thence through the opening 9 or'lO in the gasket 8 and into the interior of the tank; said bafile plate being'shown in Figs.

'1 and 2 as having a conical upper surface 15 downwardly inclined toward a centrally disposed opening 16, while in the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the bafiie plate 17 is inclined downward and .toward an opening 18 located at one side thereof. Both forms of baffle plate illustrated are provided with depending cylindrical side walls 19 and 20 which are in contact with the cylindrical surface 12 of the chamber within the body of the cap; and a baflie of either of-these forms may be madefrom a sheet metal disk by subjecting the same to suitab e pressing and die shaping operations. The baflle is then pressed into place in the chamber provided by the cylindrical wall 12 for its reception, after which the resiliency of the periphery cylindrical wall thereof operates to hold the same in place within the chamber inlwhich it is located, when such a method of construction of bafile and of assembly thereof with the body of the ca is adopted.

he holes 14,16 and 9 the form of my "invention shown in Fig. 2, and 14, 18 and 10 in the form thereof illustrated in Fig. 3, are shown as off-set one relative to the other, thus providing a construction of cap in which there is no direct and straight: communication from'the interior of the tank to the external atmosphere.

In either form ofv my invention herein disclosed it will be appreciated that such gasolene as may enter the cap through the openings'in the gasket 8, due to splashing of the liquid within the tank, will tend to return at once through the holes in the gasket and into thetank; the gasket acting to, prevent the liguid from running down and into the threa ed. joint between the cap and the filling opening. At the same time such gasolene as may find its way upward through the opening in the bafiie plate and into the upper portion of the chamber 11 in which the uppermost baffle plate is located, will run down the inclined upper surface of said plate and through the opening therein and into the lower portion of said chamber, from which it runs through the openingsin the gasket and into the interior of the tank; thus preventing the accumulation of any material quantity of liquid within the cap itself and at the same time providing a vent through which a fiow of air may occur into and out from the tank, due to'the movement of thel liquid contained within the same.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: v

1. A gasolene tank cap of the class described comprising a main body portion interiorly threaded to engage an exteriorly threaded portion of a filling opening leading-into a tank, said body portion having an internal annular seat at the inner end of said threaded portion, a chamber concentric with and above said seat, and a hole leading" from said chamber to the external atmosphere; a perforated baffle plate located 'vi+ the chamber aforesaid and extending across the same and having a cylindrical peripheral wall in contact with the interior of said chamber; and a perforated gasket located within said main body portion and the periphery of which is in engagement with said annular seat.

2. A gasolene tank cap of the class described comprising a main body portion infora'ted gasket located within said main' body portion and the periphery of which is in engagement with said annular seat.

'3. A gasolene tank cap of the class de' scribed comprising a main body portion interiorly threaded to engage an exteriorl threaded portion of a filling opening lea ing into a tank, said body portion havlng an internal annular seat at the inner end of said threaded portion, a chamber concentric with and above the level ofsaid seat, and a hole leading from .said chamber to the external atmosphere; a baffle plate located within the chamberaforesa'id and extending across the same and the surface of which is inclined downward toward an opening provided therein. and which baffle plate is pro vided with a peripheral wall in contact with the interior of said chamber; and a flat perforated gasket located within said main body portion and theperiphery of which is in engagement with said annular seat.

4. A gasolene tank cap of the class described comprising a main body portion threaded to engage a threaded portion of a filling opening leading into a tank, said body portion having an internal annular shoulder, a chamber located above said shoulder, and a hole leading from said chamber to the external. atmosphere; a baflle plate located within the chamber aforesaid and extending across the same and having an opening; and a second baflle plate located within said-main body portion and the periphery of which is in engagement with said annular shoulder, and which said second bafiie plate is provided with an opening.

5. A. gasolene tank cap of the class described comprising a main body portion threaded to engage a threaded portion of a filling opening leading into a tank, said body portion having an internal annular shoulder, a chamber located above said shoulder, .and a hole leading from said chamber to the external atmosphere; a baflle plate located within the chamber aforesaid and the surface of which is inclined downward toward an opening provided therein; and a second bafiie plate located within said main body portion and the periphery of which is in engagement with said annular shoulder, and which second balile plate is provided with an opening.

6. A gasolene tank cap of the class described comprising a main body portion threaded to engage a threaded portion of a filling opening leading into a tank, said body portion having an internal annular shoulder, a chamber having a cylindrical side wall located above said shoulder and concentric therewith, and a hole leading from said chamber to the external atmosphere; a baflie plate located within the chamber aforesaid and extending across same, and the surface of which is inclined down ward and toward an opening provided there in, and which baffle plate is provided with a cylindrical peripheral wall in contact with an internal cylindrical surface of said chamber; and a. second fiat bafile late located within said main body portlon and the periphery of which isin engagement with said annular shoulder, and which second bafile plate is provided. with an opening.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

EiAMUEL STRANAHAN. 

